If it is a new customer and you have its D&B number, you'd better check with D&B on its credit. D&B will provide you a detail report on this customer's financial history and current status. Also it will evaluate the customer's current situation and give it a grade (between 1 to 5). 1 means lowest risk, and 5 means highest risk. (nobody wants to do business with a company whose grade is 5). Of course this service is not free. It depends on what kind of contract you have with D&B.
